How to Download Audible Books to MP3 Players [3 Ways]

By Ivan Scott Updated on 2024-03-07 / Update for Audiobook Tips

"Can I listen to Audible books on my MP3 player? From the Audible US Help Center, I was informed that users could easily transfer Audible audiobooks to an MP3 player for playing on the go. But it seems there is something wrong that happened when I followed the guide to add my Audible files to the MP3 player. What's the point I missed? Is there any practical tip to make it possible?" - From Reddit

There are various reasons for audiobook lovers to add Audible books to MP3 players for listening. For example, it's more convenient to play audiobooks on a portable MP3 player than to carry a big phone while exercising outside. But many Audible users have no idea how to make it. Please don't worry, we will show you three detailed workarounds to download Audible books to MP3 players. Two of them are official ways. The last one is an advanced way that helps convert Audible to MP3 free online for offline listening on your MP3 player.

put audible books on mp3 player

Part 1. Audible Books to MP3 Player: More You Need to Know

In the beginning, we will show you something about Audible books on MP3 player. It is noted that Audible audiobooks are compatible with a wide range of MP3 players. Here let's check the most popular Audible-compatible MP3 players below.

Note: Not all MP3 players are compatible with Audible audiobooks, please check the specifications of your device before purchasing Audible subscriptions. Also, please update the firmware of some older MP3 players for compatibility with Audible audiobooks.

1) iOS, Android devices, and Fire Tablets (Free)
2) SanDisk Sansa
3) Creative Zen
4) Sony Walkman
5) Windows Phone
6) Microsoft Zune
7) Alexa devices
8) Kindle Products (Except for Kindle Keyboards and Touch)
9) Victor Reader Stream
10) Mac and Windows computers

View also:

How to Play Audible on Alexa

How to Play Audible on SanDisk Sansa

How to Play Audible on Sony Walkman

How to Listen to Audible on Kindle

Part 2. How to Put Audible Books on MP3 Player [Official Ways]

As we stated above, not all MP3 players support the audiobooks you purchased from Audible.com. As a consequence, before starting to download and move Audible books to MP3 players, please make sure the target MP3 player is included in the supported list of Audible.

If you have a compatible Audible MP3 player, you can use Audible Manager or AudibleSync for Windows to download Audible books to play Audible on MP3 player as there is no Audible app for MP3 audio players. The detailed steps vary among different Windows OS. Now, you can choose the suitable tutorial as follows to sync Audible files to an MP3 player.

If you don't have an Audible-supported MP3 player, you can skip to Part 3 to use AudFree Audible Converter to make it.

Download and Transfer Audible Books to MP3 Player with AudibleSync

AudibleSync, a downloading app developed by Audible, supports you to download and sync your audiobook progress across multiple devices and aids you to listen to Audible offline. In this way, you can seamlessly switch between your mobile, tablet, or computer while listening to Audible audiobooks with locating the same place you read in the audiobook on other devices. Besides, it is available on both Windows 10 and Windows 11.

Step 1. Install the AudibleSync app for your computer.

Step 2. Connect your MP3 player that is compatible with Audible to your computer via a USB cable.

Step 3. Launch the AudibleSync app and sign in with your Audible account. Then it will take you to your Audible library.

Step 4. Search for the title of your preferred Audible books or go to 'Library' > 'My Audiobooks' to choose books.

Step 5. Click on the 'Download' button on the right side of the title bar.

download audible audiobooks to mp3 player via audiblesync

Step 6. Tap on the 'device' icon from the left sidebar to choose your MP3 player.

Step 7. Click on the upper-right 'Activate Device' button to enable your MP3 player.

activate mp3 player on audiblesync

Step 8. Drag and drop the downloaded Audible books directly to your MP3 player folder or click 'Copy to device'.

copy audible books to mp3 player on audiblesync

Afterward, the downloaded Audible audiobooks will be stored on your MP3 player. Please disconnect your MP3 player from your computer.

Make Audible Audiobooks Download to MP3 Player with Audible Manager

Audible Manager, a desktop app, facilitates you to download your purchased audiobooks from Audible to your computer and manage the audiobooks library on Audible. Also, it empowers you to transfer your audiobooks to Audible-compatible MP3 players and burn Audible audiobooks to CDs. However, Audible Manager is being phased out in favor of the newer Audible app for Windows and Mac.

Step 1. Download the Audible Manager app on your computer and connect the MP3 player to the computer with a USB cable.

Step 2. Sign in with your Audible account on Audible Manager.

Step 3. From the menu bar, choose the 'Device' and the 'Add New Device' options. It will show up a list of all compatible devices. You need to select the target MP3 player from them and click 'OK' to confirm it.

add new mp3 player to audible manager

Step 4. There is a prompt if you want to install the component files. You can confirm it and close Audible Manager to wait for the end of the installation process.

Step 5. Relaunch Audible Manager and go to 'Mobile Device'.

Step 6. Right-click on your MP3 player and select 'Activate' from the pop-up window.

activate mp3 player on audible manager

Step 7. Head over to 'Library' to choose the title and hit the 'Add to Device' option.

add audiobooks to mp3 player via audible manager

🙆‍ Pros:

✔ Audible Manager and AudibleSync are free to use.
✔ Easy to operate.

🙅Cons:

❌ They are only available on Windows.
❌ You are required to authorize audiobooks with your Audible account.
❌ They work for a few Audible-compatible MP3 players only.
❌ Need to subscribe to Audible Plus or Audible Premium Plus plans if you want to download premium audiobooks.

Part 3. How to Download Audible Books to MP3 Player [Advanced Way]

The official ways provided by Audible are easy and professional to get Audible books files on a supported MP3 player. However, what if your MP3 player can't be recognized by Audible due to incompatibility? Fortunately, we will introduce an alternative way to make Audible available for any MP3 player here.

Audible books are encoded in AA/AAX format with built-in protected technology. It is the key reason you can't import Audible files to some MP3 players by your special needs. To break this limitation, you need to get an Audible converter to convert Audible to MP3 which is commonly used in advance.

AudFree Audible Audiobook Converter, working on both Windows and Mac, is a commercial program. It can convert Audible AA/AAX to universal MP3, FLAC, WAV, AAC, M4A, and M4B and get Audible audiobooks MP3 download free without original quality touched. In this way, Audible users can keep the converted Audible audiobooks as local files perpetually and listen to audiobooks anywhere. Besides, it supports preserving full ID3 tags and splitting by chapter function. So, you can cut your audiobooks into chapters as you like and organize your audiobook library with original metadata information.

After using this tool, you can transfer Audible file to MP3 player or other devices you want for offline listening.

AudFree Audible Audiobook Converter

audfree drm audiobook converter
  • Convert AA/AAX to MP3, WAV, AAC, M4A, FLAC, and M4B without quality loss
  • Keep ID3 tags, chapters and all other metadata info of audio files
  • Cut large Audible audiobooks into chapters
  • Convert iTunes audiobooks, Apple Music and other audio too

If you choose the second way, please download and install AudFree Audible AA/AAX Audiobook Converter on your computer in advance by clicking the above 'Download' button. This AudFree Software offers a free trial version to use its main features.

Step 1Import Audible audiobooks to AudFree Audible Audiobook Converter
add audible books to audfree audible audiobooks converter
When AudFree Audible Audiobook Converter is launched, you can drag and drop the Audible audiobooks to the conversion window or click the first 'Add' button to choose and add your favorite books.
Note: Before adding Audible files to the converter, please make sure you already imported Audible books to the iTunes library and that your iTunes was already authorized with your Audible account.
Step 2Set output format for Audible to MP3 players
set output format for audible on mp3 player
To convert Audible AAX to MP3, please click the 'Format' icon at the bottom-right corner of the main interface. It will pop up a new window, in which you can choose MP3 as the output format for the compatibility of Audible books on MP3 players. Also, you can customize other audio parameters, such as the bit rate, sample rate, audio codec, and channel.
Step 3Convert Audible books for MP3 player
convert audible audiobooks for mp3 player
Please hit the 'Convert' button at the bottom right of the main interface, this smart Audible converter will start to get audiobooks converted to MP3 player-compatible audio files. After the conversion, you can touch the 'Converted' button to locate unprotected Audible MP3 books on your computer.

How to Put Audiobooks from Audible on MP3 player

transfer audible books to mp3 from computer

Step 1. Please plug your MP3 player into the USB port on your computer via a USB cable.

Step 2. Find Audible unprotected MP3 files on your computer and copy them.

Step 3. Open your MP3 player storage in Windows File Explorer or Mac Finder.

Step 4. Now, paste the local Audible audiobooks to MP3 player.

Step 5. Unplug your MP3 player from your computer. Once done, you can play Audible audio files on all MP3 players without problems. Now, even if you cancel Audible membership, you can also access those converted audiobooks on any MP3 player.

🙆‍ Pros:

✔ It helps access Audible books on all kinds of MP3 players and devices.
✔ Support downloading Audible books to MP3 and other popular formats for free.
✔ AudFree Audible Converter is available for Mac and Windows OS.
✔ Allow splitting audiobooks into small parts by chapters.

🙅Cons:

❌ Need to download the iTunes app.

Part 4. Verdict

While using the official ways, you may find that all protected Audible AA or AAX format files will be limited to several Audible MP3 players. But with AudFree Audible Converter, you can get Audible audiobooks download to MP3 and other unprotected formats. In this case, you can listen to Audible books on MP3 players and devices anytime and anywhere. Have a look at this reliable and safe gadget. Give it a shot!


Ivan Scott

Ivan Scott

Staff Editor

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Ivan Scott, an audiobook enthusiast with a passion for writing. He keeps up with information and tech skills related to iTunes and Audible audiobooks, and shares them with readers.